Safety clip

ABSTRACT

A U-shaped clip clamps straps together by gripping them between opposing walls of the clip.

United States Patent William L. Posey 1739 Meadowbrook Road, Altadena, Calif. 91001 July 14, 1969 Sept. 14, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented SAFETY CLIP 12 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[1.8. CI 24/259 A Int. Cl A44b 21/00 Field of Search 24/84 B,

259.1, 259 FF, 259 GC, 259 HC. 265 RL, 259

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,422,658 7/1922 Brooks 24/259.1 UX 1,488,594 4/1924 Gaschke 24/259.1

2,049,660 8/1936 Patten 24/259.1

2,380,430 7/1945 Hallock 24/2591 UX 3,213,926 10/1965 Seckerson 24/84 B X Primary Examiner Donald A. Griffin Attorney-Christie, Parker & Hale ABSTRACT: A U-shaped clip clamps straps together by gripping them between opposing walls of the clip.

SAFETY CLIP This invention relates to a safety clip for clamping straps together to prevent their movement relative to each other. It is particularly useful for clamping together straps used to restrain hospital patients. Straps and buckles are commonly used to restrain patients in beds, wheelchairs and the like. Although the prior art devices are satisfactory for restraining cooperative patients, they are not always satisfactory for restraining uncooperative patients. For example, many patients are able toreach the ends of the straps and buckles and release themselves from the wheelchair or bed.

In the past, buckles with locks have been used to prevent patients from releasing themselvesJlowever, locks are objectionable and in some communities are prohibited by law because of the inconvenience of requiring a key or combination to release a patient. Locks are particularly objectionable in case of an emergency, such as a fire.

This invention provides a safety clip for clamping straps togetherso they cannot be released by the patient in the chair. 7

However, the clamp can be quickly released by an attendant without the use of a key or the like.

Briefly, the clip of this invention is madefrom an elongated strip of flexible material bent into a generally oval-shaped configuration. The intermediate portion of the strip'serves as an elongated base. The strip is bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form an elongated cover which extends parallel to and is spaced from the base. The strip is also bent at the other end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a latch which extends toward the cover. A tongue formed integrally on the cover extends a sufficient distance away from the cover to overlap the latch, and complete the oval-shaped configuration of the clip.

The clip is made of a resilient material such as spring steel, plastic, or stainless steel so that in its normally open position the cover and tongue extend away from the base and overlie the latch. With the clip in the open position, two or more straps are disposed between the cover and base. The cover is then deflected laterally so the tongue clears the latch and the cover is forced toward the base to squeeze the straps together.

' After the tongue passes the latch, the cover is forced or allowed to return laterally to its original position so the tongue passes under the latch and locks the clip closed.

In the preferred form of the invention, the base or the cover, or both, include inwardly extending protrusions or barbs which engage one or both of the straps when the clip is closed. Preferably, the latch includes a longitudinally extending notch opening toward the cover,'and the tongue is located on the cover to be offset laterally from the notch when the clip is in its normal open or closed position.

These and other aspects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the clip securing two straps together adjacent a buckle; and

FIG. 2 is a view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a clip 10 includes an elongated strip 1 I of flexible spring steel. An intermediate portion of the strip forms a flat base 12 which is of reduced width at one end and bent upwardly at a 90 angle to form a narrow end wall 13, and back over the base to form an elongated cover 14 formed integrally with the narrow end of the base and overlying the base. The cover increases in width from the narrow end of the base toward the wider end of the base to a width equal to the maximum width of the base.

The wider end of the base is bent upwardly at a 90 angle to form an upwardly extending wide wall 15 which is bent at a 90 angle to form a latch 16 which extends toward the cover.

As shown best in FIG. I, the latch includes a notch 18 which opens toward the cover and is located adjacent the right (as viewed in FIG. 1) end of the latch to be ofiset laterally and inwardly from an outwardly extending first tongue 20 formed integrally with the cover and at the right edge of the free end of the cover. A second tongue 22 is formed integrally with the cover at the left (as viewed in FIG. I) edge of the free end of the cover. The tongues each overlap the latch by an amount slightly less than the depth of the first notch. The free ends of the cover and the latch are approximately the same width.

A pair of barbs 24 are formed in the base to extend at an angle of about 30 from the base toward the cover and away from the latch. The barbs are formed by stamping the base to pierce it and deflect the barbs to the position shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, a top strap 26 and a bottom strap'27 are threaded through a conventional buckle 28 to hold a patient (not shown) in a wheelchair (not shown) or the like. The clip is applied to both straps by having it in the normally open position shown in FIG. 2 and slipping the edges of the straps between the tongue and latch into the interior of the clip so the straps lie between the base and cover. The clip is closed by holding the base and sliding the cover to the left (as viewed in FIG. 1) until the first tongue is aligned with the notch in the latch, and the second tongue is clear of the left end of the latch. The reduced width of the strip where the cover and base join together facilitates lateral movement of the'cover with respect to the base. The cover is then squeezed toward the base to clamp the two straps between the cover and base and against the barbs. The tongues are now under the latch as shown in phantom line in FIG. 2. With the tongues held down in this position, the cover is forced or allowed to move laterally to the right (as viewed in FIG. '1) to return to its normally closed position. The cover is now released but the clip does not open because the tongues are engaged and held down by the latch.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the intermediate portions of the cover and base are curved toward each other to provide a reduced cross-sectional area over the barbs. Moreover, the cover may be dimpled or barbed inwardly as at 29 to further reduce the clearance of the cover in the position in the vicinity of the barbs. This ensures that the straps are firmly gripped by the clamp and makes it virtually impossible for a patient to release the clip or the buckle which secures the straps that hold him in place. However, the buckle is released quickly and safely by an attendant simply holding the lower strap 27 and pulling the upper strap 26 from right to left (as viewed in FIG. 1) across the exposed facesof the cover and the clip. .This forces the cover to move to the left until both tongues are cleared so that the clip springs open. The straps are now free to be slipped relative to each other to undo them through the buckle.

Thus, with the clip of this invention, a patient is firmly secured in a wheelchair or bed so he cannot release himself. Yet, he is securely held without locks that require keys or knowledge of combinations, and an attendant can release the clip quickly without a key or the like, should it be necessary to do so.

lclaim:

l. A safety clip for clamping a pair of straps together, the clip comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, the intermediate portion of the strip serving as an elongated base, the strip being bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a cover which extends parallel to and is spaced laterally from the base, the strip being bent at the other end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form an elongated latch which is spaced laterally from the base and extends toward the cover, the latch having a free end spaced longitudinally from the free end of the cover, and an edge extending transversely relative to the free end, a substantially flat tongue having a width less than that of the cover, the tongue being integral with the cover and extending away from the free end of the cover a sufficient distance to overlap the free end of the latch, the tongue being positioned on the cover so that tongue may slide around the edge of the latch and under the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and the latch.

2. A clip according to claim 1 which includes barbs formed integrally with the strip and extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and cover.

3. A clip according to claim 1 which includes protrusions formed integrally with the strip extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the cover and base.

4. A clip according to claim 1 in which the base is bent to extend inwardly toward the cover.

5. A clip according to claim 1 in which the cover is bent to extend inwardly toward the base.

6. A clip according to claim 1 in which the strip is of reduced width between the cover and the base.

7. A safety clip for clamping on a strap, the clip comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, the intermediate portion of the strip serving as an elongated base. the strip being bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a cover which extends parallel to and is spaced from the base, the strip being bent at the other end of the base into a U- shaped configuration to form a latch which extends toward the cover, a tongue on the cover extending away from the cover a sufficient distance to overlap the latch, and there being a notch in the latch opening toward the tongue on the cover and being laterally offset from the tongue when the clip is in its released condition.

8. A clip according to claim 7 which includes barbs formed integrally with the strip and extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and cover.

9. A clip according to claim 7 in which the strip is of reduced width between the cover and the base.

. 10. A safety clip for clamping on a strap, the clip comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, the intermediate portion of the strip serving as an elongated base, the strip being bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a cover which extends parallel to and is spaced from the base, the strip being bent at the other end of the base into a U- shaped configuration to form a latch which extends toward the cover, a pair of tongues on the cover laterally spaced from each other and extending toward the latch, each tongue being located at a respective edge of the cover, and there being a notch in the latch opening toward one of the tongues, the notch being laterally ofi'set inwardly with respect to the said one of the tongues.

11. A clip according to claim 10 which includes barbs formed integrally with the strip and extending into the U- shaped configuration formed between the base and cover.

12. A clip according to claim 10 in which the strip is of reduced width between the cover and the base. 

1. A safety clip for clamping a pair of straps together, the clip comprising an elongated strip Of flexible material, the intermediate portion of the strip serving as an elongated base, the strip being bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a cover which extends parallel to and is spaced laterally from the base, the strip being bent at the other end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form an elongated latch which is spaced laterally from the base and extends toward the cover, the latch having a free end spaced longitudinally from the free end of the cover, and an edge extending transversely relative to the free end, a substantially flat tongue having a width less than that of the cover, the tongue being integral with the cover and extending away from the free end of the cover a sufficient distance to overlap the free end of the latch, the tongue being positioned on the cover so that tongue may slide around the edge of the latch and under the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and the latch.
 2. A clip according to claim 1 which includes barbs formed integrally with the strip and extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and cover.
 3. A clip according to claim 1 which includes protrusions formed integrally with the strip extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the cover and base.
 4. A clip according to claim 1 in which the base is bent to extend inwardly toward the cover.
 5. A clip according to claim 1 in which the cover is bent to extend inwardly toward the base.
 6. A clip according to claim 1 in which the strip is of reduced width between the cover and the base.
 7. A safety clip for clamping on a strap, the clip comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, the intermediate portion of the strip serving as an elongated base, the strip being bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a cover which extends parallel to and is spaced from the base, the strip being bent at the other end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a latch which extends toward the cover, a tongue on the cover extending away from the cover a sufficient distance to overlap the latch, and there being a notch in the latch opening toward the tongue on the cover and being laterally offset from the tongue when the clip is in its released condition.
 8. A clip according to claim 7 which includes barbs formed integrally with the strip and extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and cover.
 9. A clip according to claim 7 in which the strip is of reduced width between the cover and the base.
 10. A safety clip for clamping on a strap, the clip comprising an elongated strip of flexible material, the intermediate portion of the strip serving as an elongated base, the strip being bent at one end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a cover which extends parallel to and is spaced from the base, the strip being bent at the other end of the base into a U-shaped configuration to form a latch which extends toward the cover, a pair of tongues on the cover laterally spaced from each other and extending toward the latch, each tongue being located at a respective edge of the cover, and there being a notch in the latch opening toward one of the tongues, the notch being laterally offset inwardly with respect to the said one of the tongues.
 11. A clip according to claim 10 which includes barbs formed integrally with the strip and extending into the U-shaped configuration formed between the base and cover.
 12. A clip according to claim 10 in which the strip is of reduced width between the cover and the base. 